May 20, 2009 Modern battlefield valor for military leaders Throughout history, military leaders routinely engaged in battlefield combat performing heroic and courageous acts, which served to rally their forces and inspire them to achieve victory. Over time, reputations were earned by such leaders until some reached the point where their mere presence on the
May 6, 2009 Understanding consent Jim was your typical first-term military member. After three years on active duty he was used to the idea of being out on his own, deploying to support his service and making the most of his off-duty time. One Friday night, Jim was invited to a party. While there, he met up with Jane, a co-worker
April 13, 2009 Doing more with less Doing more with less. We've all heard the phrase and I've seen it become a reality over the past 19 years on active duty. When I pinned on my second lieutenant bars, the Air Force had more than 600,000 active-duty Airmen; we were fighting a cold war from permanent bases; Iraq was fighting Iran; no
April 7, 2009 Keep watch for “Silent Tears” of child abuse April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to focus on the protection and care of our children. Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first presidential proclamation in 1983. This observance helps citizens across the country and the Offutt community to focus
March 20, 2009 What service means During my recent deployment to Afghanistan, the men and women of the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron flew an American flag on a combat mission in honor of the teachers and staff at my daughter's elementary school. After we returned from Afghanistan, the school had the flag framed for
March 4, 2009 Every Airman, family member is important Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, delivered one resounding message during a town hall meeting at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, recently - Every Airman is important. All Airmen are integral to the service's success and no job and no one is more important than another, General Schwartz
March 4, 2009 Does ‘working the system’ really work? Have you ever picked up the phone to call in a favor? I think we all have. I actually asked for help with this article since I was running out of time. Thanks to Mike Picard I got it completed. I've called the flight doc to "fit someone in." I've called down to assignments to help along assignments
March 3, 2009 Innovation- simple solutions to change the system When you hear the word "innovation," what comes to mind? Some may see technicians in white lab coats, searching for the cure for cancer. Others might visualize the newest sports car, put through its paces on a test track. But innovation such as this is rare. More often than not, innovation is
Feb. 23, 2009 High Risk Activities and Line of Duty: Be Safe, Be Prepared Do your summer leave plans include mountain climbing, skydiving or white water rafting? If they do, then as an Airman you have the responsibility to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. Mountain climbing, skydiving and white water rafting are three of the 26 "high-risk" activities
Feb. 3, 2009 Security awareness Have you ever heard the phrase: "Call the cops! It's their job!" In reality, installation security is the job of everyone working in and around an Air Force base and its resources. Although my fellow cops are the most conspicuous people on the base, we can't be everywhere and that's where you come